The Sounds
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The (reconstructed) pronunciation of sounds in Quenya in the following sections is given in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), and with as close an approximation in English or another modern language as possible. IPA symbols are given between square brackets (e.g. [a]). Many IPA symbols are predictable and correspond to standard English usage; some, however, diverge (for these, a guide or the website of the International Phonetic Association may be consulted).
Pronunciation: Vowels and Diphthongs
Vowels
Just as in Latin, two distinct systems of reconstructed vowel pronunciation can be recognized. Both widely diverge in the their views on the quality of short vowels. The first system, which I will label ‘Piedmontese’, poses that the quality of long and short /i/ and /u/ is the same (→ AppE). The second, ‘Calabrian’, proposes that short vowels are more lax (→ PE12/8). In this grammar, the ‘Calabrian’ system is taken to be canonical.
‘Calabrian’ System
The following are the Quenya vowels, and their pronunciation according to the system where the short stressed (→ Note) vowels are more lax than the long ones. In addition, an approximation of the pronunciation is given in English and/or another modern language.
| vowel | sound | example | approximation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Vowels | |||
| /a/ | [ä] | /‘anːa/ gift | It. casa, Ru. парта |
| /e/ | stressed [ɛ] | /‘lenda/ journey | En. bed, It. bene, Ru. это |
| unstressed [ɛ̝] | /‘aːre/ sunlight | ||
| /i/ | [ɪ] | /‘kirja/ ship | En. pit, Lat. tribibus, Ru. дерево |
| /o/ | stressed [ɔ] | /‘rokːo/ horse | En. not, It. però, Uk. любов |
| unstressed [ɔ̝] | /‘rokːo/ horse | ||
| /u/ | [ʊ] | /‘kundo/ prince | Ru. сухой |
| Long Vowels | |||
| /aː/ | [ɑ̟ː] | /‘aːre/ sunlight | En. bath, Ru. палка |
| /eː/ | [ɛ̝ː] | /‘neːsa/ sister | It. crederci, Ru. человек |
| /iː/ | [iː] | /‘liːco/ wax | En. machine, It. bile, Ru. лист |
| /oː/ | [ɔ̝ː] | /‘loːke/ snake | It. forense, Ru. тост |
| /uː/ | [uː] | /‘ŋuːle/ sorcery | En. brute, It. tutto, Ru. узкий |
Nasal Vowels
Rare nasal vowels still appear in Noldorin Quenya (→ PE19/96), but were largely ousted in later periods. No available dictionary at the moment clearly marks nasal vowels.
| vowel | sound | example | approximation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal Vowels | |||
| /ãː/ | [ɑ̟̃ː] | /‘vãːme/ storm | Fr. sans |
| [ɐ̞̃ː] | Lat. tam | ||
| /ẽː/ | [ɛ̝̃ː] | /‘tẽːma/ row | Pt. (Br.) entro, Lat. censor |
| /ĩː/ | [ĩː] | /‘rĩːna/ crowned | Pt. (E.) vim, Lat. inferōs |
| /õː/ | [ɔ̝̃ː] | /‘lõːma/ moss | Fr. non, Lat. consul |
| /ũː/ | [ũː] | /‘sũːma/ vessel | Pt. (E.) mundo, Lat. monstrum |
Phonetic Details
Vowels are produced by the uninterrupted flow of air from the vocal cords through the mouth (as opposed to consonants, which involve a complete or partial interruption of the air flow, →1.11).
The quality of a vowel (its sound) is determined by three factors:
-
height (or ‘openness’): the vertical position of the tongue relative to the roof of the mouth: for example,
ianduare ‘high’ (‘close’) vowels, because the tongue is high in the mouth when they are pronounced;ais a ‘low’ (‘open’) vowel; -
backness: the position of the tongue relative to the back of the mouth: for example,
iis a ‘front’ vowel, because the tongue is positioned towards the front of the mouth when it is pronounced;ois a ‘back’ vowel;ais a ‘central’ vowel; -
roundedness: whether the lips are rounded or not: for example,
uandoare ‘rounded’ because the lips are rounded when they are pronounced;i,eandaare ‘unrounded’.
The quantity (length) of a vowel is determined primarily by the duration of its pronunciation, although there are often changes in quality between long and short vowels as well.
Using these variables, the vowel system of Quenya may be represented as follows:
Figure 1.1: IPA vocalic quadrilateral of Quenya (→Vowel allophony).
Diphthongs
Quenya has six diphthongs, combinations of two vowels that are pronounced in a single syllable. The second part of a diphthong is always either i or u. The resulting syllable is always long for the purposes of metre and accentuation; for details →2.5-6.
| diphthong | sound | example | approximation |
|---|---|---|---|
| /aj/ | [äi̯] | /‘lajre/ summer | En. high, It. mai |
| /oj/ | [ɔi̯] | /‘cojre/ spring | En. voice, It. poi |
| /uj/ | [uːi̯] | /‘rujne/ fire | It. lui |
| /aw/ | [äu̯] | /‘rawko/ demon | En. loud, It. auto |
| /ew/ | [ɛu̯] | /‘kewra/ renewed | It. neutro |
| /ju/ | [i̯uː] | /‘sjuːle/ incitement | F. viuli |
In diphthongs i and u were not pronounced exactly like the equivalent single vowels, but as sounds approximating ‘semivowels’ [j] and [w] (as in En. you and wave); this was particularly the case when the diphthong preceded a vowel, in which case i/u was pronounced as a glide between the vowel sounds (as in En. hey you and new wave). For raising diphthong /ju/, →PE19/107. For the semivowels, also →1.25.
Pronunciation: Consonants
Phonetic Details
Consonants are sounds produced by the complete or partial interruption of the flow of air by a constriction at some point in the vocal tract: the Quenya consonants may be divided into the following categories: stops (labial, velar and dental stops), fricatives, liquids, and nasals (for semivowels, →1.25).
Stops
Stops (or plosives): sounds produced by the complete interruption of the flow of air. Within this category, three groups may be distinguished, depending on the place of articulation:
- (bi)labial stops /p/ and /b/: the flow of air is interrupted by pressing the lips together;
- dental stops /t/ and /d/: the flow of air is interrupted by pressing the tongue against the teeth;
- velar stops /k/ and /g/: the flow of air is interrupted by pressing the tongue against the back of the mouth;
- palatal stop /c/ (→PE22/66): the flow of air is interrupted by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth;
- labiolized velar stop /kʷ/, and in some treatments /gʷ/ (→PE22/66): the flow of air is interrupted by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth with a simultaneous rounding and protrusion of the lips;
The stops may be further divided between:
- voiced stops /b/, /d/, /g/: the vocal cords vibrate;
- voiceless stops /p/, /t/, /k/, /c/ and /kʷ/: the vocal cords do not vibrate;
The following are the eight stops of Quenya:
| stop | sound | example | approximation | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labial Stops | ||||
| /p/ | [p] | /‘parma/ book | En. spa | |
| /b/ | [b] | /‘ambo/ hill | En. obey, Ru. рыба | only after /m/ |
| Dental Stops | ||||
| /t/ | [t̺] | /‘taːri/ queen | En. hospital | |
| /d/ | [d̺] | /‘arda/ realm | En. dash, Fi. sidos | only after /n/, /l/ and /r/ |
| Velar Stops | ||||
| /k/ | [k] | /‘kaːle/ light | En. skate | |
| [kʷ] | /‘alkwa/ swan | La. quod | medially before /w/ | |
| /g/ | [g] | /‘aŋga/ iron | En. good, Ru. гость | only after /ŋ/, /l/ and /r/ |
| [gʷ] | /‘uŋgwe/ web | La. lingua | between /ŋ/ and /w/ | |
| Palatal Stop | ||||
| /c/ | [c̟] | /‘caːve/ taste | Hu. tyúk, Ic. gjóla | |
| Labiolized Velar Stop | ||||
| /kʷ/ | [kʷ] | /‘kʷetːa/ word | La. quod | |
Further Notes
Stops /p/, /t/, /k/ don’t show marked aspiration (→PE22/65) like in En. pot, top and cat. Before a stressed vowel they’re more tense.
The Quenya dental sounds (which also include /n/, /l/, /r/, see below) represented sounds much closer to the comparable sound in English, as both had alveolar, and not dental (like in Romance languages), articulation (→PE22/65): the tip of the tongue makes contact with the gum-ridge behind the upper teeth rather than with the teeth themselves.
Perhaps velars showed some fronting (→PE19/71) [k̟], [g̟] before /e/ and /i/ to a degree similar to English thick (weaker than in En. key). It is also reasonable to assume that velarized [kʷ], [gʷ] appear before rounded vowels /o/ and /u/.
Fricatives
Fricatives: sounds produced by ‘squeezing’ air through a constriction at some point in the mouth. Quenya fricatives are diverse, but even though just like stops, they may be voiced and voiceless, only one voiced fricative actually survived.
- labio-dental fricatives /f/ and /v/: the flow of air is obstructed by pressing the upper teeth against the lower lip;
- velar fricatives /χ/ and /xʷ/ (→PE22/65): the flow of air is obstructed by pressing the tongue against the back of the mouth (with a simultaneous rounding and protrusion of the lips in case of /xʷ/);
- palatal fricative /ç/ (→PE22/65): the flow of air is obstructed by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth;
- glottal fricative /h/ represents a rough breathing;
- sibilants /s/ and /ʃ/ (→PE19/88): the flow of air is obstructed by pressing the tongue against the gums;
The following are the eight fricatives of Quenya:
| fricative | sound | example | approximation | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labio-Dental Fricatives | ||||
| /f/ | [f] | /‘fende/ door | En. font | |
| /v/ | [v] | /‘vala/ god | En. vale | |
| Velar Fricatives | ||||
| /χ/ | [χ] | /‘naχte/ wound | Ge. Bach | a) after /a, aː/ b) after ‘Calabrian’ /o, u/ |
| [x] | /‘oχta/ war | Ge. Buch | a) after /oː, uː/ b) after ‘Piedmontese’ /o, u/ | |
| /xʷ/ | [xʷ] | /‘xʷesta/ breeze | We. (S.) chwech | |
| Palatal Fricative | ||||
| /ç/ | [ç] | /‘çalma/ shell | Ge. ich | |
| Sibilants | ||||
| /s/ | [s̻̪] | /‘siːma/ mind | Ru. свет, Fr. façade | |
| /ʃ/ | [ʃ] | /‘ceʃare/ interest | En. sheep, It. fasce | in place of older /θj/ |
| Glottal Fricative | ||||
| /h/ | [h] | /‘hala/ shade | En. height, Ge. Hass | |
Further Notes
The standard Goldorin has eight fricatives, but in recitations /θ/ could be restored (rather as a borrowed from Sindarin [θ⁺] than classical [s̺] →VT41/7, however).
/s/ is articulated with the tongue blade very close to the upper front teeth, with the tongue tip resting behind lower front teeth (→PE22/65). The hissing effect in this variety of s is very strong.
Resonants
The category of resonants consists of the nasal consonants /m/, /n/ and /ŋ/, the so-called ‘liquids’ /l/ and /r/, and ‘semivowels’ /j/ and /w/.
Nasals: the air flow is completely obstructed in the mouth, but flows through the nose. The Quenya alphabet has four nasals (all voiced):
- a labial nasal, /m/: the flow of air is interrupted by pressing the lips together; air escapes throughthe nose;
- a dental nasal, /n/: the flow of air is interrupted by pressing the tongue against the teeth or gums; air escapes through the nose;
- a palatal nasal, /ɲ/ (→PE22/66): the flow of air is interrupted by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth; air escapes through the nose;
- avelar nasal, /ŋ/: the flow of air is interrupted by pressing the tongue against the back of the mouth; air escapes through the nose.
| nasal | sound | example | approximation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labial Nasal | ||||
| /m/ | [m] | /‘melo/ honey | En. ham, It. mondo, Ru. муж | |
| Dental Nasal | ||||
| /n/ | [n̺] | /‘naːmo/ judge | En. nice, It. nano | |
| Palatal Nasal | ||||
| /ɲ/ | [ɲ] | /‘ɲaːre/ tale | It. bagno, Du. oranje | |
| Velar Nasal | ||||
| /ŋ/ | [ŋ] | /‘ŋalta/ reflection | En. sing, It. anche | |
Liquids: two Quenya letters belong to the class of liquids /l/ and /r/:
- a lateral consonant, /l/ (→PE22/65): air escapes along the sides of the tongue, but not through the middle of the mouth;
- a rhotic consonant (or ‘tremulant’), /r/: this was pronounced as a rolling, ‘alveolar trill’ sound, with the tongue vibrating against the gums.
| liquid | sound | example | approximation | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lateral | ||||
| /l/ | [lʲ] | a) /‘felja/ mine b) /‘estel/ hope c) /‘kelva/ animal | Ru. лёд | a) before /j/ b) finally after /e/, /i/ c) between /e/, /i/ and a consonant |
| [l̥] | /‘palta/ palm | before /p/, /t/, /k/, /c/, /kʷ/, /s/ | ||
| [l̺] | /‘lajma/ plant | It. letto | in other positions | |
| Trill | ||||
| /r/ | [r̥] | /‘orto/ mountain | before /p/, /t/, /k/, /c/, /kʷ/ | |
| [r̺] | /‘rawko/ demon | It. nuora | in other positions | |
Semivowels: the air flow is narrowed in the mouth, but not as constricted as with fricatives. There are two semivowels in Quenya:
- a palatal semivowel, /j/: the flow of air is narrowed by the tongue at the roof of the mouth;
- a labial semivowel, /w/: the flow of air is narrowed by the lips.
| liquid | sound | example | approximation | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palatal Semivowel | ||||
| /j/ | [j̊] | /‘lacja/ opening | En. pure | after /p/, /c/ |
| [i̯] | /‘lajre/ summer | cf. Diphthongs | in a diphthong | |
| [j] | /‘jaːve/ fruit | En. you, Ru. яма | in other positions | |
| Labial-Velar Semivowel | ||||
| /w/ | [w̥] | /‘alkwa/ swan | En. queen | after /k/, /t/ |
| [u̯] | /‘rawmo/ storm | cf. Diphthongs | in a diphthong | |
| [w] | /‘fanwa/ veil | En. weep, It. uomo | in other positions | |
Further Notes
The unvoicing is ‘partial’ (→PE22/65): the voicing occurs during only part of the sound (i.e. has a short duration). Hense a more precise realization of /pj/ and /rt/ would be [p⁽j̊] and [r̊⁾t]. In any case, the direction of unvoicing is not marked here for being predictable.
Geminates
Most of the consonants discussed above can be doubled (so-called ‘geminates’), e.g. nn, rr, tt: these stand for ‘lengthened’ versions of the same sounds(cf. the pronunciation of English compounds such as unnamed, part-time). Geminates affect the metrical quantity of a syllable: thus e.g. the second syllable of indemma mind-picture is long for the purpose of metre, even though the e is a short vowel.
Sandhi
As Quenya is a language with strict phonotactics (the rules of sound combinatorics), it is no surprise that in speech when words come in contact they can be altered to make for more befitting flow. Such changes which happen on the boundaries between words or morphemes are called sandhi. For Quenya that includes:
- removal of final vowels;
- assimilation to place of final consonants;
- insertion of consonants after a final vowel.
This section will not include various allophonic assimilations, however, as those are inferrable from the pronunciation tables.
Elision
Most short vowels at the end of a word may be dropped before a word beginning with a vowel or diphthong; this is called elision. That a vowel has been elided might be indicated by an apostrophe (’) in Latin script and middle point (⸱) in tengwar:
- ⸱ ⸱zac' i·fende (= ⸱zacë i·fende)
Elision is often not expressed to the eye except in poetry. Available materials are very inconsistent, but even where the elision is not expressed, it seems to have occurred in speaking.
Elision affects only unimportant words or syllables, such as particles, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions of two syllables, and the final syllables of nouns, pronouns, and verbs.
The first vowel of a word may be elided when it follows a word ending in a vowel. This is called ‘prodelision’ or ‘aphaeresis’. The clear occurances in Quenya include only:
- conjunction ⸱'r < ar: ⸱ cuita'r parë
- article ⸱'n < in: ⸱ utúlie'n aure
In words with final u the elision does not occur. It also doesn’t seem to occur with final i before e:
Examples required
Assimilation
Under construction
’Movable’ Consonants
Under construction